Chapter 10 of 10

Chapter 10

14 min read3,399 words

The next day, when Lü Cheng arrived at the courtyard, Song Ping called him over. Today, Song Kaixuan, the most outstanding young man of Song Family Village, was preparing to go on a spring outing to Datong Mountain, and he needed Lü Cheng, the servant, to help. Since it was a spring outing, they would naturally have to stay outside for a day. If Song Kaixuan was in a good mood, they might even spend the night. For the midday meal, Lü Cheng, the servant, would have to chop wood and start the fire.

Song Kaixuan's trip naturally couldn't be on foot, and even Lü Cheng and the other servants would benefit from this. Three carriages were prepared: one for Song Kaixuan and his third and fifth brothers, one for the four guards, and one for Lü Cheng, Song Ping, and other servants like Ma Shaoan. Although Lü Cheng had been a servant in Song Family Village for five years, this was his first time riding in a carriage, and the destination was far from Song Family Village. This made him very excited as soon as he got in the carriage.

Outside Song Family Village, Datong Mountain stretched for hundreds of miles, with only a part of it within the boundaries of Datong County. Datong Mountain was shared by several counties. Lü Cheng usually went to a fixed area to chop wood, but this time, they were going to a completely unfamiliar place.

After about half an hour in the carriage, the road ahead could no longer be traveled, and everyone got off. Lü Cheng and Ma Shaoan had to carry many things. Led by Song Kaixuan, they headed deeper into Datong Mountain. After walking for about the time it takes to eat a meal, they reached a small stream.

The stream flowed gently, with lush trees and green grass on its banks, and beautiful flowers blooming. Following the stream upstream, they soon arrived at a waterfall. This was the source of the stream, and below the waterfall, there was a deep, bottomless pool. The splashing water from the waterfall obscured the view, making it seem as if the pool had no bottom.

This was already at the foot of Datong Mountain, with a quiet and serene environment, birds singing, and flowers fragrant. If they didn't have to work, it would indeed be an ideal place for a spring outing. Upon arrival, Song Ping led Lü Cheng and Ma Shaoan to cut trees and build a shelter. They laid soft withered grass inside the shelter and arranged the items they had brought from the carriage, including tables, chairs, and several quilts. As for pots and pans, they were naturally not lacking.

While Lü Cheng and the others were building the shelter, the Song brothers and the guards went into the mountain. Song Ping was checking if the shelter was sturdy. He and Ma Shaoan were responsible for chopping wood and boiling water, respectively.

At the foot of Datong Mountain, Liang Hao, one of the guards, held a large knife and said flatteringly to a tall, elegant man, "Second Young Master, I'll clear the way."

He had been Lü Cheng's classmate. At the age of eight, he had cultivated to the first level of Inner Strength, and at fourteen, he reached the second level. Now, he was one of the youngest guards in Song Family Village. Lü Cheng and Ma Shaoan were about the same age as him, but they could only be servants. When he saw Lü Cheng on the road, he ignored him. Even when Lü Cheng looked at him, he held his head high, thinking that as a guard, he didn't need to acknowledge these servants.

"Hmm, be careful not to scare away the prey," Song Kaixuan nodded gently. He was the second among the third-generation disciples of Song Family Village, but his Inner Strength cultivation was the highest. He was only eighteen, but last year he had already reached the fourth level of Inner Strength, and now he was in the middle of the fourth level.

Among the third-generation disciples of Song Family Village, only he had reached the fourth level. His cousin, Song Lixin, was twenty and had only reached the peak of the third level. Looking at the three major families in the entire Datong Mountain area, among the third-generation disciples, only he had reached the fourth level of Inner Strength.

"Lü Cheng, did you notice? Liang Hao is so impressive now," Ma Shaoan, a kitchen servant, said. He and Lü Cheng, as well as Liang Hao, were classmates. However, he and Lü Cheng couldn't cultivate Inner Strength and could only be servants. Liang Hao, having reached the second level of Inner Strength and with his father being a guard, had now become a guard himself.

"I think being a servant is better," Lü Cheng said. Before coming to Datong Mountain, he thought being a guard was indeed prestigious. They didn't have to do much work every day, and as long as they had the ability, they could receive a monthly salary, and their food was much better than that of the servants.

But when he saw Liang Hao being subservient and fawning before the Song family's young masters, he felt that being a servant was better. Although he had to endure Song Ping's temper, he could go out to chop wood every day without having to worry about others' attitudes.

"What's good about being a servant? You work hard every day and don't even get a penny of monthly salary," Ma Shaoan envied Liang Hao. He didn't have to do much work, just walk around the village every day and could get two taels of monthly salary. If he worked for three to five years, he could marry a wife. If he continued to be a servant, he probably wouldn't be able to marry or have children in his lifetime.

Lü Cheng was about to speak when he saw Liang Hao running over with a wild rabbit. He ran up to them, threw the rabbit on the ground, and said proudly, "This is what Second Young Master caught. Clean it well and stew it."

"Great, we get to eat wild rabbit meat," Ma Shaoan grabbed the rabbit by its long ears and said excitedly. Although he was a kitchen servant, he didn't get to eat meat every day.

The kitchen in the courtyard was mainly responsible for cooking for the guards. The guards couldn't even guarantee a meal with meat every day, and he, as a servant, had even less chance. Of course, he was better off than Lü Cheng. Even if he didn't get meat, he could at least have a full meal. Lü Cheng sometimes missed meals when he was chopping wood and had to go hungry.

"This is what Second Young Master caught. You want to eat meat? It's good enough if you can have some soup," Liang Hao said with disdain. A wild rabbit was only two or three pounds. After the Song brothers ate, it would be the guards' turn, and only after they finished would it be the servants' turn.

"Wild rabbit meat isn't that good anyway," Lü Cheng really couldn't understand why they preferred wild game to the delicious beef and mutton. In terms of taste, there was a significant difference.

"Lü Cheng, have you ever eaten wild rabbit meat?" Liang Hao glanced at him with disdain. In private school, Lü Cheng had indeed been more favored by the teacher, but Lü Cheng still couldn't cultivate Inner Strength, while he had reached the second level. Standing in front of Lü Cheng, he felt a sense of superiority.

"I can't say about other meats, but I have eaten wild rabbit meat," Lü Cheng had been eating wild rabbit meat for over a month. Now, the smell of wild rabbit meat no longer made him salivate.

Liang Hao thought Lü Cheng was still trying to maintain his pitiful self-respect. For a servant, being able to have a full meal was already good. Wanting to eat meat, especially wild rabbit meat, was a delusion!

"Ma Shaoan, do a good job. I'll treat you to a meal at Baoqing Tower when we get back," Liang Hao said, no longer paying attention to Lü Cheng. He was now a guard and didn't need to argue with a servant. He had his own dignity.

"Thank you, Brother Liang," Ma Shaoan thought of the braised lion's head and crispy duck at Baoqing Tower, and his mouth watered.

"Lü Cheng, why do you have to argue with Liang Hao? He's a guard now," Ma Shaoan said. Although he and Lü Cheng were friends, Liang Hao was a guard. He not only received a monthly salary but was also a martial artist. A second-level Inner Strength expert could subdue them with just one finger.

"I'm not arguing with him. I really have eaten wild rabbit meat, even last night," Lü Cheng said. He didn't think Liang Hao, the guard, was anything special. They were all working for Song Family Village, just with different roles. If being a guard meant being as fawning as Liang Hao, he would rather be a servant.

"Lü Cheng, go chop more wood," Song Ping walked over. In his eyes, Liang Hao was a guard, and Lü Cheng was a servant. The difference was clear.

"Isn't it enough already?" Lü Cheng asked. There was already a pile of firewood by the fire, enough for the midday meal.

"We might spend the night here," Song Ping said. It was rare to come out, so Song Kaixuan naturally wanted to enjoy himself fully. Even if Song Kaixuan decided to return later, having Lü Cheng chop more wood was not a big deal.

"Mr. Song, spend the night here?" Ma Shaoan asked in fear. Datong Mountain looked quiet and beautiful, but it was dangerous at night. Even at the foot of the mountain, it was very dangerous.

"With Second Young Master here, what are you afraid of? Besides, there are so many guards," Song Ping said dismissively.

While Lü Cheng was chopping wood, he looked up at the sky, worried. Based on his experience, there would probably be a heavy rain today.

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